By Rodney L. Pry

Would you like to see your Sunday school grow? Hopefully you realize the great value of learning more about God, His Word (the Bible) and His will through the Sunday school and see the importance of extending an invitation to everyone to attend Sunday school. But, how do you bring about Sunday school growth?

One of the best places to begin working for Sunday school growth is right within existing Sunday school classes. Members within your classes know the value of Sunday school. They know how their lives have been made better by what they have learned and by the new friends that they have made within the class. And, they should want to share the good things that they have found in Sunday school with others.

Sunday school classes can provide a great base for Sunday school growth IF they are ready to grow. Many people would say, "of course our Sunday school class wants to grow." But, wanting to grow and being ready to grow are two different things.

Here are several things to think about before you invite new members in:

Is the class open to new members? Many times the members of a Sunday school class become so close in their friendships that they find it hard to include new members. Developing close friendships with other class members is great, but don’t get so close that you exclude new members.

Are class members truly willing to welcome new members? When someone new comes to your class, do you really work to make them feel welcome? Are new persons included in all class activities? Do members take the time to really talk to new persons, to get to know them and to show that they are really concerned about them?

Is the class teacher doing everything possible to make each lesson as interesting and relevant to the lives of the class members as possible? Is your teacher involved in regular teacher training and does he or she work to include new ideas and new teaching methods into the class? Suggestions from class members should be encouraged as a way of making the class better and more effective.

Are students prepared for each week’s lesson? Do they read the lesson booklet and background scripture? Do they pray for the teacher and students involved in the class? Encouraging class members to be involved in daily individual and family devotions is also very important.

Does the class have planned fellowship activities? One hour a week is not enough to really build fellowship and friendships among class members. Classes should plan events where members and their families can come together for fellowship and fun.

If the class is truly ready to grow, then its time to plan a program of growth. Here are some steps you might take:

Set a goal. If you are involved with a Sunday school-wide attendance building effort, you should have an overall goal for the entire Sunday school. This total goal should be divided among participating classes. Write the goal in large numbers on posters throughout the classroom as a reminder to members of the work to be done.

Make a list of prospects. Keep in mind that not everyone that you invite will come and not everyone who comes once will become a regular member of your Sunday school. Therefore, if you want to try to get 10 new members, you will probably need at least 30 names on your prospect list.

Make a list of the four "target groups" that you could focus on…

Persons who do not attend any church or Sunday school.

Persons who are members of your church (and may attend the worship service), but do not attend Sunday school.

Families where one or more members attend Sunday school, but other members don’t.

Persons who could be called "infrequent attenders" or "drop-outs."

Ask each class member to write down the name of at least one person that they know who would fall into each of these four categories. This list of names could be used to put together a list of prospects.

Divide up the list of prospects. Make sure each member realizes what they will be asked to do and their personal responsibility as a Christian to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19 & 20), by telling others about Jesus Christ and working to teach them his Word through the Sunday school.

Make regular contacts with prospects. Each class member should make a special effort to visit each of the persons on their list, talk to them about Jesus Christ and Sunday school. They should send them a card or letter or phone them each week. They should make an effort to do things with and for each person. The important thing is for the class member to be a FRIEND and to show through their words and actions that Jesus Christ and Sunday school are important to them.

Report progress weekly. Recognize guests who are in attendance and the persons who invited them. It is also good to talk about efforts that class members are making to contact the persons on their list. Talking about what’s happening will encourage members and help them get new ideas for ways to contact and invite others.

Encourage class members to pray for the persons on their list and for other class members and those persons that each is working to contact. The power of prayer should never be under estimated.

Each member of the class must realize that telling others about Jesus Christ isn’t some sort of "option" that a Christian can do if they feel like it. The directives of the Great Commission are quite clear. We are all to "go to all people everywhere," we are to "make disciples" and we are to "teach them" His Word. Sharing the "Good News" about what we have found in Jesus Christ and in Sunday school is something that our Lord expects each of us to do.

Sunday school growth is not something to be left to the pastor, Sunday school superintendent and the Sunday school teachers. EVERY MEMBER of each Sunday school class has a responsibility to see that their class and their Sunday school grows, to the glory of God. Are you and the members of your Sunday school class doing your part?

(This article appeared in the "Summer, 1996" issue of "The Herald.")